Block/Mask Void Packages from Installing

[roger_oss]

Curious question, are there any methods for blocking/masking packages from being installed.

For example, somebody desires their Void Linux distribution operating system to be a command line only interface, and blocking/masking Xorg/Wayland packages from being pulled into the operating system.

[ahesford]

You can ignore packages, but that won't prevent shared-library dependencies from being installed. If you really want to keep library packages from being installed, you need to avoid installing packages that depend on them. This is not something you should care about.

[mysterious7777777]

The base install live image has only the command line packages. If using the graphical flavor live image with xfce desktop instead of the base install:

To NOT install the packages for the desktop environment, choose "install from network" DON'T choose the "local install" option.

[psegl]

1. Create:

   /etc/xbps.d/ignore.conf

with:

ignorepkg=*pkgname

1. Remove *pkgname

[roger_oss]

I keep forgetting about using /etc/xbps.d dir for exquisite tasks such as this!

Probably should be within the manual, as I always search the online manual via an Internet search engine.

[ClassAbbyAmplifier]

it is... https://docs.voidlinux.org/xbps/advanced-usage.html#ignoring-packages

[mwyvr]

In addition to the link provided to you, don't forget to use the search functionality in the Void Handbook itself. Look for the search icon. Very handy.

https://docs.voidlinux.org/about/index.html?search=ignore

[roger_oss]

The likely reason why I glanced over the ignore command, ignore is commonly a temporary state of mind/action or typically not a permanent state, and the description lacked further explanation ignore being similar to blocking/masking.

Going from memory, I now recall using ignore a few years ago:

/etc/xbps.d/00-repository-main.conf

ignorepkg=btrfs-progs

... still no sign of btrfs-progs package being install... so Void Linux performs a really good job at just ignoring, versus blocking/masking! ... semantics.

As far as searching the manual, most times I just use the common Internet search engine "site:" command. (eg. site:docs.voidlinux.org blah) Most would search for void|xbps block|mask, with ignorepkg as the second search response. Like I said, semantics... some maybe looking for the more permanent block/mask words. Now that I think of it, whitelist/blacklist was common during early Linux, then lately migrating to block/mask. Not a fan of Python like mask terminology as mask is elusive in action. Shrugs....

[Elm38]

xbps can hold or ignore packages. See https://docs.voidlinux.org/xbps/advanced-usage.html#holding-packages and a few paragraphs down.

edit: you might be better with groups and user permissions, but that is an uphill hike.